SmallNetBuilder

New Interface Tour

Once logged into the management console, you’ll find each of the server’s functions arranged in a collapsible tree on the left side of the interface (Figure 2).  The large window contains wizards for six commonly used features.  You can also drag up to 10 of your most frequently used functions to the “My Favorites” section in the center of the screen.  The interface is also scalable, so you can resize it to fit your personal preferences. 

Figure 2: Disk Station Manager 2.0 web interface

For those who don’t like the Wizard mode, you can switch to the Complete mode which provides an icon and description for each item in the left hand pane.  (Figure 3).  The new interface also provides easy access to restarting the server as well as switching between supported languages.  I switched the UI to French, and the entire process took just a few seconds.

Figure 3: Disk Station Manager 2.0 Complete Mode

The previous software included on Synology products featured full LAMP server capabilities as well as Photo Station 2, a photo sharing application, network and local back up applications, an audio station for playing Internet radio, an iTunes server, an iPod interface and a remote file sharing application. All of those legacy applications have been kept in DSM 2.0, but like the user interface itself, several applications have received a slick new interface. 

Most notable is the upgrade from Photo Station 2 to Photo Station 3 as well as the Audio Station.  In addition, a completely new feature has been added – Surveillance Station.  When used with a supported IP network camera, you can turn your Synology NAS into a powerful video surveillance system.  Since this is the major new feature (other than the user interface) of the new software, I’ll spend a little more time describing the feature and my experience with the Surveillance Station.